Pitchers May Show They Are No Hitters

What can be expected when American League pitchers replace their team’s designated hitter during interleague games in National League parks?

“Something more for Comedy Central to show,” Philadelphia Phillie pitcher Mark Portugal said.

No disagreement from Angel coach Larry Bowa, who recently watched the club’s pitchers take batting practice and said:

“If the commissioner saw this, he’d call off the interleague games.”

There is only an acting commissioner, of course, and there is only the American League using the designated hitter, meaning in the World Series the designated hitter is employed only in AL parks, the rule that will be followed in interleague games.

AL pitchers have batted an exciting .081 in the 10 World Series played under the rule, compared to a whopping .158 for more experienced NL pitchers.

The American League has won six of the last 10 World Series, but the loss of the designated hitter could carry significant consequences amid the interleague schedule.

“You can love the game in both leagues, but American League teams playing by National League rules are at a disadvantage,” St. Louis Cardinal Manager Tony La Russa said in Los Angeles recently.

AL pitchers have been taking batting practice since spring training in an attempt to diminish the disadvantage, concentrating, at the least, on getting bunts down, but Atlanta Brave Manager Bobby Cox said it won’t matter how much they have practiced.

“When a guy winds up and throws 90 miles an hour and everyone on the infield is charging, it’s a lot different,” Cox said. The Angels, of course, know the danger of putting a bat in a pitcher’s hands. Mike James lost his grip during March batting practice and the missile struck Chuck Finley in the face, breaking an bone near his eye.

“The only thing we’re trying to do is make sure they know how to bunt and advance the runner,” Manager Terry Collins said.

“These guys are tremendously competitive, and the thing that scares the heck out of me is that they may get on base and suddenly start sliding headfirst and blow out a shoulder or break a finger. I remember that happening to a kid [Rich Rodas] I had in the Dodger system. He blew out a shoulder in a slide and never came back to his previous form. He was a real prospect too.”

Minnesota pitcher Bob Tewksbury, something of an experienced hitter after many years in the NL, said the most important advice he has given fellow Twin pitchers is that if they get on base, “remember the main objective: Stay out of everyone’s way.”

Should it come to this? Should a major sport allow its two leagues to operate with different rules? It’s a familiar controversy with no resolution in sight. The National League doesn’t want the designated hitter, the players’ union won’t give it up and the American League is actually ambivalent, voting 7-7 in its last straw poll.

One result is that the rule as it applies to interleague games defeats one of the purposes of interleague, which is to showcase top stars in some of the cities where they haven’t played.

“When fans go to a National League park, they’re going to want to see the big boys,” Milwaukee pitcher Cal Eldred said.

“Usually, one of the highest-paid guys on the team is the DH, like Cecil Fielder, Paul Molitor, Chili Davis, Eddie Murray. In interleague games [in NL parks] those guys will be sitting. Either that, or they’ll be playing defense, which we pitchers don’t like.”

Chili Davis, the former Angel designated hitter now with Kansas City, said he thinks the situation helps differentiate the leagues, creating uniqueness.

“I really wouldn’t want to see both leagues use the DH and I wouldn’t want to see the American League give it up,” he said. “How has getting one more hitter in the game hurt it? It’s prolonged the careers of guys like Harold Baines and Paul Molitor and Edgar Martinez, and that’s been good for the game. Myself included. I wouldn’t still be playing if it wasn’t for the DH.

“I mean, would you rather see me or Kevin Appier hit?

“I mean, putting a bat in the hands of a pitcher is like putting a chastity belt in the hands of a hooker.”